Israeli military inquiry calls October 7 attacks a failure

An internal Israeli Defense Force inquiry has labeled the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks as "one of the greatest failures" in Israeli military history. The report states that the military's inability to prevent the attacks was a "complete failure" of security. The inquiry revealed that Hamas fighters executed a well-planned assault, resulting in 1,320 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. The IDF was caught off guard, with minimal troops stationed at the border, and struggled to regain control during the attack. The report also highlighted that the IDF underestimated Hamas's capabilities and dismissed signs of an impending attack. Despite prior intelligence indicating unusual activity, officials did not act decisively, believing Gaza was a secondary threat compared to Iran and Hezbollah.